Crackling mud

Cooking up chicken for the kabsa

January 2009 Overview - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Shwarma chefs hard at work - Riyadh

Late-night shwarma restaurant - Riyadh

Tahliah Street at Night

New Year's Resolutions / Wish List for Riyadh and Saudi Arabia in 2009

1. Purchase road sweeping / cleaning machines and hire people to operate them daily.

2. Hire more traffic police to enforce traffic laws.

3. Start a campaign to encourage people to fasten seat belts in the front seat.

4. Start a campaign to encourage people to use baby seats and not sit with babies in the front seat

5. Start planning public transportation – busses, subways, light rail – this will also boost the economy too.

6. Start a recycling program citywide. More jobs.

7. Curb the feral cat population. More jobs.


For the entire super sunny Gulf and Middle East:

* Implement a solar energy program - did you know Israel has solar water heaters on every rooftop?

Arabic pastries

Baked-in cheese in the center. Currently these are my favorite!

Randow walk through Riyadh

Riyadh - October 2008 photo album

Riyadh - October 2008

Feral garbage cats of Riyadh

Feral garbage cats of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Juices + Pink Pickled Stuff

Wonderful juices at a Lebanese restaurant. Plus some pickled pink stuff. And a setting sun and the breaking of Ramadan fast upon the customers.

The exotic (to some extent) juices are a real treat after a day of fasting and due to the general desert dryness of Riyadh.

I had some of the raisin juice. Yes, raisin juice. They take raisins and rehydrate them. Then create a juice. I did not care for it. Sicky sweet. A bit like cough syrup. However, I am told it is an acquired taste.

My favorite is a mix of kiwi and orange.

Siwak

During Ramadan, some people purchase small fragrant twigs called "siwak". Below I have a high-end version. The idea is to brush one's teeth during the daylight fasting hours to keep "fasting breath" away.


 
 
 
 

Pickled pink something-or-other in Lebanese restaurant

Pickled pink something-or-other in Lebanese restaurant
Originally uploaded by BoydJones

Setting sun through Lebanese restaurant

Setting sun through Lebanese restaurant
Originally uploaded by BoydJones

One can see the setting sun and people lining up to buy food for the breaking of the Ramadan fast.

Kingdom Tower from close up

Drive to Riyadh's First Chinese Restaurant.

Slice of life view of a drive to Riyadh's First Chinese Restaurant:

KSA Human Rights Commission

The Saudi Arabian Human Rights Commission is across the street from my hotel. Guess I can go there if I have any problems?

Bukhari cuisine

Bukhari are apparently Muslims from parts of Asia (e.g., India) who settled in Saudi Arabia after pilgrimage here. There are restaurants that serve a sort of fusion cuisine as a result. Very cost effective and delicious.

Mr. Sabih Khan of the UK enjoys in this photo and a photo of garnishes.

SaudiLifeHack # 6 - Flickr

Direct uploads to Flickr seem to be blocked here in Saudi Arabia — but using the Flickr Uploadr works.